We’re David and Lois McBeath. We live in Point Pleasant, WV – a small town along the Ohio River on the western side of the state. We have 2 sons. Austin is 15. He’s a sophomore at Pt. Pleasant High School. Darrell is almost 12. He’s in the 6th grade at Roosevelt Elementary.
We actually began our adoption journey more than 10 years ago. I saw an ad in the newspaper about Chinese babies. We called about it, but it just wasn’t even feasible at that time in our life. All these years, it was always there, stuck somewhere in the back of our minds. I don't know why exactly – it just was. The thought never completely went away.
We also talked off and on about having another child. Our house was only 3 bedrooms, and we know the boys could have been in a room together, but we didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. In the spring of 2006, for some reason (I don't recall exactly what) - it came up again. We started thinking and talking - why not? So we started checking into it more. We did a lot of research online. The more we found out, the more we felt a calling, a desire and even a need to do this.
We started the adoption and added onto the house all at the same time. It took about 6 months to get the paperwork together. Then about another month after we sent it to China for them to translate it and 'log us in' (11/6/06). That's when we started to officially wait.
We finally got "THE CALL" on 7/13/08. It was a Sunday afternoon! After 2 ½ years, we are finally going to get our baby!


Leila Ann McBeath, formally known as Shun Xi Yi, was born on Oct 29, 2007. She had a cleft lip and cleft palate. The lip has been repaired, but not the palate. (We'll have to do that when we get her home.) She's in the Children's Welfare Institute of Shunde District of Foshan City, which is located in the Guangdong Province, in the southern part of China.

Shunde, the hometown of flowers, is one of four cities under the jurisdiction of Foshan City. Covering an area of 806 sq meters and with a population of 1.05 million, Shunde City is situated in the middle of the fertile Pearl River Delta, between Guangzhou and Hong Kong. It was set up as a county in the 3rd year (1452 AD) of the Jintai reign of the Ming Dynasy (1368-1644), and conferred with the administrative status of a city in 1992 by the State Council.

Foshan City is also where the actor Bruce Lee was from.

Friday, August 29, 2008

We're going to China!

We finally have travel dates!!! We're leaving Charleston early the morning of Sept. 11, and coming home the evening of Sept. 27.

A Bible verse that has sustained us throughout this journey (and is also on a picture on Leila's wall) is this: I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. I Samuel 1:27

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Leila's Orphanage


We found out a little about Leila's orphanage (Shunde Children’s Welfare Institute).
It's 1,728 m, and the outside area is 1,380 m. The main building has four floors with 100 beds. There are many trees, as well as, various facilities. They have administrators, medical staff, nannies and people in charge of logistics.

Monday, August 25, 2008

New Picture!


We got a new picture of Leila today. She's 13 pounds now.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Leila's Room


Leila’s room is almost ready. (Look how pretty!) She’s going to be using the crib that belonged to both of her older brothers. We just need a baby to put in it now.

A Baby Shower


Our family and friends hosted a baby shower on August 16 at our church. We got lots of nice presents. We feel truly blessed to have so many great people waiting to help welcome Leila home.